US, Europe cancel all flights to Israel amid missile worries

A print screen of the statement released by the US Federal Aviation Federation (FAA) shows the notice that was issued informing US airlines of the ban to fly to or from Israel''s Ben Gurion International Airport for a period of up to 24 hours.

The US Federal Aviation Federation (FAA) released a statement with a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) informing US airlines that they "were prohibited from flying to or from Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport for a period of up to 24 hours.”

“At 12:15 EST on July 22, 2014, the FAA issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) informing US airlines that they are prohibited from flying to or from Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport for a period of up to 24 hours. The notice was issued in response to a rocket strike which landed approximately one mile from Ben Gurion International Airport on the morning of July 22, 2014. The NOTAM applies only to US operators, and has no authority over foreign airlines operating to or from the airport,” the statement reads and adds that the FAA “immediately” informed US carriers when the agency learned of the rocket strike. It then says the agency “was finalizing the NOTAM.”

“The FAA will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation. Updated instructions will be provided to US airlines as soon as conditions permit, but no later than 24 hours from the time the NOTAM went into force.”

In Europe

Meanwhile, a spokesman of Air France said the company was suspending also all of its flights to Tel Aviv "until further notice" due to the "security situation in Israel.

In a similar tone, Lufthansa - which includes Swiss, Germanwings and Austrian Airlines - joined the ban extending the prohibition to fly to Israel for two days.